The IT Band
Well, the 18 mile run went smoothly, but last weekend during an “easy” 14 mile run, I had a ton of trouble finishing the last mile. The right side of my right knee was screaming at me, and not even the soothing sound of Bob Boilen could distract me from the pain. So I checked with a trainer at the gym and a coach I’m working with through Team in Training, and it’s an aggravation of my IT Band. The medical term for the condition is Illiotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) or “Runner’s Knee.” This is the same problem I had when I ran the NYC marathon in 2005. Essentially, it’s an inflamation of a band that runs along the outside of your thigh. When it gets inflamed, it snaps against the outside of your knee and hip. And unfortunately, there’s not a lot you can do, other than rest, take anti-inflammatories and stretch. So I’m hanging up the sneakers for two weeks, and will try some swimming/biking in the meantime. It’s a bummer of timing, but hopefully I have enough in the tank to get me to the finish line in Nashville.
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March 22, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Karin
You mean Idiotibial Band.
March 23, 2009 at 4:03 am
Craftmafia
I feel your pain. Literally.
During the NYC Marathon around mile 13/14, I stopped at a First Aid tent for some icy hot and ibuprofen. There was a woman trying to ask the people there for some help in French, and I helped translate. She asked what my problem was. “Mon eee taaaayy bande.” (My IT band.) She said, “moi aussi.” (me too.) It’s a runner’s problem the world around.
May 28, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Royce Blum
You’ve done it once again! Great post.